Coretha Rushing, SHRM-SCP

Coretha M. Rushing, SHRM-SCP, is a veteran HR leader and strategist with more than 25 years of experience at some of the world’s most iconic brands. Currently, Rushing serves as an executive coach to leaders in career transition, including those looking to improve their effectiveness, move to progressively larger or broader roles, and explore post-retirement and other career options after life transitions.

Rushing has been recognized by Black Enterprise as one of the most powerful women in corporate America. Most recently, she served as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for Equifax, Inc., a $3 billion information, data/analytics, and technology credit reporting company with more than 11,000 employees in 24 countries. She had global responsibilities for all aspects of human capital, as well as the Equifax Foundation. Prior to that assignment, Rushing served as Senior Vice President and CHRO for The CocaCola Company, where she helmed all human resources functions for the $32 billion consumer beverage business represented in more than 200 countries. In previous roles
at Pizza Hut (formerly a PepsiCo brand), IBM, and R.H. Macy’s, she held a number of HR roles with increasing scope and responsibilities.

A sought-after corporate executive, Rushing has served on a variety of Boards. She is currently a Board Member for 2U, a public educational technology company, and serves on its Compensation and Organization Committee. She has been an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) since 1998 and a member of its national Board of Directors since 2012. She served as SHRM Board Chair from 2017 to 2018 during a period of growth, transition, and transformation for the organization and HR profession.

Rushing regularly speaks on the most critical business and HR topics today, such as the Changing Workforce and Workplace, Leadership Transition, Women in Leadership, and Diversity and Inclusion. She is a great story teller who brings energy to every speaking engagement—and with the authenticity only earned by a two-decade career as a top practitioner in the field.

A native of Chesapeake, Va., Rushing earned her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Psychology from East Carolina University and holds a Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) in Human Resources and Counseling from George Washington University. She is currently based in Atlanta, Ga.